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Jean de Limur drama From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Letter is an American pre-Code dramatic film directed by Jean de Limur and released by Paramount Pictures. It was the first full-sound feature shot at Astoria Studios, Queens, New York City.[1] A silent version of the film was also released.[2] The film stars stage actress Jeanne Eagels in her penultimate role and O.P. Heggie. The film was adapted by Garrett Fort from the 1927 play The Letter by W. Somerset Maugham. It tells the story of a jealous married woman who kills her lover and is brought to trial.
| The Letter | |
|---|---|
_Poster.jpg) Film poster | |
| Directed by | Jean de Limur |
| Screenplay by | Garrett Fort |
| Based on | The Letter by W. Somerset Maugham |
| Produced by | Monta Bell |
| Starring | Jeanne Eagels O.P. Heggie |
| Cinematography | George J. Folsey |
| Edited by | Jean de Limur Monta Bell |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 60 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $8,900,000 (domestically) |
On January 1, 2025, the film's copyright expired, resulting in the film entering the public domain.
Bored and lonely living on her husband's rubber plantation down in Singapore, Leslie Crosbie, takes a lover, Geoffrey Hammond, but he eventually tires of her and takes a Chinese mistress, Li-Ti. When Leslie learns of Geoffrey's new mistress, she insists on seeing him while her husband is away and tries to rekindle his love. However, Geoffrey is not moved and informs Leslie that he prefers Li-Ti. Leslie becomes enraged and shoots Geoffrey repeatedly.
At the murder trial, Leslie perjures herself on the stand, claiming that she had little to do with Hammond and that she shot him when he tried to rape her. Meanwhile, Li-Ti's emissary provides Joyce, Leslie's attorney, with a copy of a letter in which Leslie begged Hammond to visit her. Li-Ti is ready to sell it for $10,000, provided Leslie makes the exchange. On Joyce's advice, Leslie agrees. Li-Ti humiliates her but eventually accepts the money. Leslie is found not guilty.
Joyce presents his bill to Leslie's husband Robert, who demands to know why the expenses total $10,000. Joyce relates the story of Li-Ti's blackmail and gives Robert the damning letter. Robert confronts Leslie and forces her to admit everything. Leslie proclaims that she still loves the man whom she had killed. As punishment, Robert keeps her on the plantation even though he no longer has any money.
The film consisted of 5,778ft, with at least six reels.[3]
The film was a hit upon release, earning $8,900,000 domestically.[4] The New York Times praised the film and considered it "an important piece of theater and film history." They also claimed Eagels was a "brilliant, eccentric and spectacularly self-destructive actress."[5]
WordPress described the film as "a real gem that deserves to be seen."
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Jeanne Eagels, who died just months after the film was completed, was posthumously nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She was the first performer to be nominated by the Academy after her death, although all nominations at the 2nd Academy Awards were unofficial, and she was listed among several actresses "under consideration" by a board of judges.[6]
The Letter was included in the Top Ten Films list of 1929 by the National Board of Review.
_Lobby_Card_1.jpg)
The Letter had no releases outside of its theatrical run, and was considered lost. The only traces of the film's existence were surviving lobby cards and posters for the film as well as a few screenshots from the film. However in June 2011, a restored version of the film was released on home video by Warner Bros. as part of its Warner Archive Collection as a made-on-demand DVD.[7][5] It is believed to be the only surviving sound film starring Jeanne Eagels.[5] On January 1, 2025, the film's copyright expired, resulting in the film entering the public domain.
Herbert Marshall, who plays Leslie's lover in the film, also appears as her husband in William Wyler's 1940 Warner Bros. remake. Bette Davis received an Oscar nomination for the role of Leslie Crosbie in the 1940 version.
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